Zebra Danios are adorable, beautiful, and make fantastic starter fish for your aquarium. However, it is safest for you and your fish if you have the correct companions for your zebra danio. Therefore, we’ve prepared a list of the 15 best zebra danio tank companions!
Zebra Danios are capable of getting along with most, though not all, fish. They are most compatible with fish that need similar environment conditions, and are aligned with fish who are not too aggressive, nor made shy by the schooling Zebra Danio’s high energy.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about Zebra Danio tank mates and what makes them compatible with this little fish, as well as some answers to frequently asked questions!
Contents
Zebra Danio Tank Mates – What You Need to Know
The first thing we should establish is what a zebra danio is like, and what factors should be considered when looking for a suitable tank mate!
Temperament
Temperament refers to a fish’s personality and mannerisms. Usually, it is an evaluation of whether or not the fish is aggressive. If your fish have opposing temperaments, they may fight, stress one another out, or even injure and kill one another!
The Zebra Danio is a high-energy schooling fish, and although it may posture, it is not a fighter. Therefore it should be kept with other fish of a similar, non-aggressive, but self-sufficient temperament.
Size
The size of the fish that are kept in the same tank as the zebra danio should be comparable, if not slightly smaller. A zebra danio can reach sizes of 1.5 inches. Since they are schooling fish and typically kept with four or five of their kind, pay attention to tank size when selecting tank mates, as well. There should be plenty of room for everybody!
Competition
If the zebra danio must compete for its food, it could lead to either infighting amongst fish or worse; starvation! Zebra danios eat worm based food, crustaceans, and algae, and they also love Shrimp Pellets! Be sure to find fish who will not have a competing diet with your zebra danio for tank mates.
Parameters ; Tank Setup
If your fish’s tank is not up to proper standards, you could risk their health. However, if you have a tank setup that is fine for your zebra danio, but incompatible with another fish in the same area, you have selected the wrong tank mate! Make sure tank mates to the zebra danio require the same pH levels, temperature, and space.
Zebra Danios need at least a 10 gallon tank with a temperature of 64 or 77 degrees Fahrenheit. They also need soft, fine substrate and a pH level of 7.0 to 7.8.
15 Best Zebra Danio Tank Mates
Let’s take a look at our 15 best Zebra Danio Tank mates!
- Blood Parrot Cichlid
- Ember Tetras
- Swordtails
- Red Wagtail Platy
- Bronze Corydoras
- Kuhli Loach
- Cardinal tetra
- Rosy Barb
- Clown Pleco
- Harlequin Rasbora
- Ghost Shrimp
- Honey Gourami
- Angelfish
- Neon Tetras
- Rummy Nose Tetras
Let’s dive into some more detail concerning these great zebra danio tank mates.
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1. Blood Parrot Cichlid
- Scientific Name: Amphilophus citrinellus x Vieja Synspilum
- Adult Size: 7 to 10 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 76 to 80 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
- Care Level: Moderate
- Origin: Hybrid fish species that was first created in Taiwan
The thing that makes blood parrot cichlids so great for zebra danios is that they have the same peaceful nature. Despite being part of the cichlid species, the Blood Parrot fish is not terribly aggressive and will make a colorful addition to your zebra danio’s tank!
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- No issue with aggression.
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- 10 gallons should be added for additional fish in a tank with a Blood parrot cichlid.
2. Ember Tetras
- Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon amandae
- Adult Size: 3 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 75 to 80 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 Gallons
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Brazil
The Ember Tetras is a bright twin to some goldfish species. It is a peace-lover, and many tank owners choose it for its sweet and friendly disposition. This disposition matches up well with the zebra danio.
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- No fighting!
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- None!
3. Swordtails
- Scientific Name: Xiphophorus helleri
- Adult Size: 3 to 4 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 64 to 82 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 20 Gallons
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Central America, Mexico
Swordtails are not intensely aggressive nor competitive, and their schooling tendencies will make your tank even more colorful and bright alongside the school of zebra danios! The only scenario in which male swordtails can become violent is if their tank size is too small with too few hiding places.
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- Not prone to infighting.
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- Can become aggressive if the tank size is too small.
4. Red Wagtail Platy
- Scientific Name: Xiphophorus maculatus
- Adult Size: 2 to 3 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 64 to 78
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico
The coloration of red wagtails makes them a great visual pairing with your zebra danio. Even more than that, their temperaments are incredibly peaceful. This is what causes them to be such a fantastic neighbor to the peace-loving zebra danio.
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- None!
5. Bronze Corydoras
- Scientific Name: Corydoras aeneus
- Adult Size: 2.5 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 72 to 79 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 Gallons
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia
Bronze corydoras will add a bit of flash to your tank with their shining copper-to-gold coloration. They are not good to be kept with any aggressive fish, but since both the zebra danio and the bronze corydoras are schooling fish, this should not be a problem!
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- Should be kept with at least 5 other bronze corydoras to increase happiness.
6. Kuhli Loach
- Scientific Name: Pangio Kuhlii
- Adult Size: 4 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 75 to 86 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 2 gallons
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Southeast Asia
The Kuhli Loach is a dashing, bottom-dwelling fish. It tends to eat the poop and waste of other fish, which includes your zebra danio! As long as the tank is large enough and includes caves to hide in, you should have no trouble between the two fish; make sure to keep more than one kuhli loach in the tank, though!
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- Will not attack the zebra danio.
- Eats a different diet to avoid food competition.
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- Must have caves for exploration.
7. Cardinal tetra
- Scientific Name: Paracheirodon axelrodi
- Adult Size: 2 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 73 to 81 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
- Care Level: Medium Difficulty
- Origin: Venezuela, Columbia, Brazil
This beautifully two-toned, bright fish has several things to recommend it as a great companion for the zebra danio. For one thing, it is small enough to avoid trying to pick fights with a school of zebra danio. However, make sure that there aren’t more cardinal tetras than zebra danios in your tank, or you may have a fish gang war on your hands.
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- Will not become aggressive if outnumbered.
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- May become aggressive if outnumbered.
8. Rosy Barb
- Scientific Name: Puntius conchonius
- Adult Size: 6 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 64 to 72 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 30 Gallons
- Care Level: Medium Difficulty
- Origin: India, Bengal
Rosy Barbs are not only a beautiful fiery color, but they are a fantastic fish when it comes to community. They are only aggressive, nipping at tank mate fins, if stressed. The best way to keep your rosy barb from engaging in this behavior with zebra danios is to keep the schooling barb with five or more of its own kind.
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- Not typically aggressive
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- Can be aggressive if kept alone with other fish.
9. Clown Pleco
- Scientific Name: Panaqolus maccus
- Adult Size: 2 to 4 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 73 to 82 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Venezuela
Clown plecos are a fish with a long lifestyle and polite community habits. This is partly because they tend to stay on the bottom of the tank, meaning there is no risk of a clown pleco getting in the way of your schools of zebra danio!
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- No aggressive tendencies.
- Occupies a different zone of the tank.
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- None!
10. Harlequin Rasbora
- Scientific Name: Trignonostigma heteromorpha
- Adult Size: 1 to 2 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 73 to 82 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
- Care Level: Medium difficulty
- Origin: Malaysia, Sumatra, Thailand
The harlequin rasbora is a sharp-looking little fellow, with goldfish-like appearances except for a stark black triangle along its flanks. Not only does it look neat, but it will almost never attack or cause stress to other fish.
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- Non aggressive
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- May become stressed without other rasboras to shoal with.
11. Ghost Shrimp
- Scientific Name: Palaemonetes paludosus
- Adult Size: 1 to 2 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 65 to 75 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: North America
Ghost shrimp not only make a cool and pleasing visual contrast with zebra danios, but they are intensely easy to care for. They even have a nice, calm-spirited temperament, keeping them from bothering any fish with compatible tendencies.
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- Not Aggressive
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- None!
12. Honey Gourami
- Scientific Name: Trichogaster Chuna
- Adult Size: 2 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 70 to 82 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: India
Named for its lovely yellow-gold color, the honey gourami will make an excellent companion for your school of zebra danios thanks to their reclusive nature. Honey gouramis are only aggressive within their own schools, and since zebra gouramis are not aggressive, they should make an excellent pair!
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- No aggression
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- Can be timid without other honey gouramis around.
13. Angelfish
- Scientific Name: Pterophyllum
- Adult Size: 6 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 75 to 82 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: South America
This gorgeous fish is interesting to look at because its pupils make it appear as if a stripe goes all the way through its bright orange eye! Besides this they are non-aggressive and should cause no trouble in a tank with zebra danios.
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- Non aggressive toward danios.
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- Aggressive if kept in a tank with others of its own kind.
14. Neon Tetras
- Scientific Name: Paracheirodon innesi
- Adult Size: 1.5 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 69 to 79 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 Gallons
- Care Level: Medium Difficulty
- Origin: Southeastern Colombia, Eastern Peru, Western Brazil
This fish is not only absolutely lovely with incandescent stripes, but they act as a cleanup crew at the bottom of the tank! They are not in competition with zebra danios for food, and are content to swim around peacefully.
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- No food competition
- A lack of aggression
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- None!
15. Rummy Nose Tetras
- Scientific Name: Hemigrammus Bleheri
- Adult Size: 2 to 3 inches
- Compatible With: Zebra Danio
- Water Temperature: 75 to 84 F
- Minimum Tank Size: 20 Gallons
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: South America
Rummy Nose Tetras are striking in appearance with bright red heads, stark white bodies, and a zebra pattern on their tails which will compliment your zebra danios nicely. Their personalities will also compliment the danios thanks to being small, peaceful fish.
Pros of keeping with Zebra Danio:
- No aggression.
Cons of keeping with Zebra Danio :
- None
In Conclusion
In conclusion, the 15 best zebra danio tank mates are fish that need the same moderate tank temperatures as well as will not increase the risk of bullying in the tank. For this reason, fish like the neon tetra and honey gourami are some of the best options for keeping the peace!
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can zebra Danios Live with?
Zebra danios are not aggressive and love to school with their own kind, but some of the other types of fish they can live with peacefully include other danios, barbs, swordtails, and platies.
How many zebra danios should be kept together?
Zebra danios are, as previously stated, a schooling fish, so they should be kept together. The ideal amount of zebra danios in a tank, especially for beginners, is 5.
Are zebra danios a good community fish?
Zebra danios are actually one of the best types of fish to keep in a community! They are peaceful without being overly flashy and posturing, which can sometimes bring even shyer tankmates out of their shells.
Veteran fish keeper and keen hobbyist with a serious case of MTS. My midlife crisis was the establishment of a fish room, much to my wife’s horror. Little does she know it could be worse!!